Council greenlights improved rules to tackle non-sustainable fishing by third countries 10:20 Council gives final green light to a set of updated rules aimed at improving the[...]

The Council today formally adopted a set of updated rules to better tackle non-sustainable fishing practices allowed by non-EU countries in relation to stocks of common interest.

The aim of the regulation is to safeguard the long-term sustainability of shared fish stocks, while also ensuring fair competition for European fishers and protecting EU fishing interests.

Clearer rules leading to improved enforcement

The revised regulation makes the rules for identifying countries that allow non-sustainable fishing practices clearer and more transparent, thus improving legal clarity. Non-EU countries will now have a better understanding of the circumstances under which their actions could lead to EU penalties, including import bans or restrictions of fish and fishery products.

In particular, the updated regulation clarifies the notion of 'failure to cooperate' and provides a list of examples of non-cooperative behaviour.

Improved cooperation

The regulation also fosters cooperation with non-EU countries before and after the EU takes action to address non-sustainable fishing practices.

It ensures a continued dialogue with the third country, as well as bilateral and multilateral cooperation, aiming to ensure that the country ceases to allow non-sustainable fishing. In line with the new rules, third countries will have 90 days to reply to a notification on the Commission's intention to identify it as non-cooperative.

Next steps

The amended regulation will enter into force 20 days after its publication in the EU official journal.

Background

Regulation (EU) 1026/2012 sets out a framework for the EU to adopt measures against non-EU countries that allow non-sustainable fishing practices. These measures may include identifying a country as such, as well as imposing restrictions on imports of fish and fishery products from that country, as well as specific measures for certain vessels or fleets from the third country concerned.

• Text of the regulation
• Council and Parliament secure deal to better tackle non-sustainable fishing by third countries (press release, 3 June 2025)
• Tackling non-sustainable fishing practices allowed by non-EU countries: Council endorses negotiating mandate (press release, 11 December 2024)